Can you tell me about Malaga or Nerja for a short break?

[JacknDiane]

Want to go for a long weekend, 4 night break. Haven't been to either place. Love sea swimming and secluded coves. Hardly drink and eat very simply. Don't need nightlife. Don't drive. Just a nice relaxing break with things to do. Love old towns or villages and having a coffee and people watching.
Pretty limited budget.
Any advice would be lovely.

Going end of August/beginning September

Great time to go. School holidays over. Malaga is interesting There's a square just outside the bus station which is nice to hang out for a while.

Next time I'm there -sister lives near there I want to do the hop on hop off bus to orient myself.

Not been to Nerja but a friend lived there for 6 years and wants to return (won't happen though).

It's annoying that everything is in Spanish though.

Great thing is that Spain has made private smoking of marijuana legal so it's very chill. Young people wandering the streets smoking. Chatting and chilling. (UK is so uptight).

Enjoy!

Sea swimming is good.

neither could be described as secluded. Malaga is a big city and Nerja is a big town.

you can drive to traditional Spanish villages further inland.

It's annoying that everything is in Spanish though.

Goodness, anyone would think these places are in Spain.

Nerja is nice enough although a lot of the beaches are not easily accessible. The ones that are are nice though. The town is lovely and very busy - plenty of opportunity for people watching.

Definitely Malaga - so much more to see and do. It’s a really vibrant city and the city centre beach is fine. Nerja is pretty but much quieter and attracts an older demographic of tourists.

We are down the road right now in Torrox Pueblo just outside Nerja, flew into Malaga. It has Torrox Costa a walk or taxi away. It is very nice and chilled and lovely squares and cafes for people watching. It feels much more Spanish to me, but lots of expats so most people speak English. Its surprisingly cheap in the cafes and bars. Might be worth a look.

I can’t believe what I have just read. Shame everything is in Spanish????

Have only been to Malaga but I really enjoyed it. Very pretty, lovely lots of lovely places to sit and people watch. Interesting things to do (Alcazaba, castle, cathedral, Picasso museum, branch of the Pompidou Centre) and you’ve got both city and sea. I’d very happily go again!

Malaga is so easy to get to and get around.

Sounds like malaga is ideal. I dont speak a word of Spanish though. Can anyone tell me more about the public transport?

There are few coves and really secluded spots around Malaga, but I'd suggest getting the bus from Malaga to San Pedro de Alcantara down the coast. It is still quite authentic as a working Spanish town where people live and work, with lots of little cafes, a square, independent shops and just a lovely non touristy atmosphere. On the other side of the main road is the Paseo/promenade where you can walk all the way to Marbella if you want to. Plenty of stops on the way for coffee and people watching, and you can have a swim aswell, the beach is gorgeous and goes on for miles.

Other than that, if you go inland, the town of Antequera is lovely too for all the things you like except the sea swimming!

Salobrena is lovely get there easily from Malaga. Lots of places to stay - fabulous beach, you can swim, nice walks in the hills that are easy to get too. It's a proper spanish town but people speak English https://www.omio.com/buses/malaga/salobrena

Bit of a curve ball but Olhos D’Água in Portugal sounds like just what you need. Quiet resort town and a variety of beaches within easy walking distance - a little harbour beach in the town centre, a big expansive stretch of sand to the east of the town and some coves that were never busy when we were there in June. If I was going back without the kids I'd stay in the 3HB Falesia Beach or Gardens or the Porto Bay Blue Ocean which all had access to the cove via a wooden staircase in the cliff. You fly into Faro and it's a half an hour transfer time.

We just visited Malaga in June with a three night layover to Granada to visit the Alhambra. We stayed in malagas old town and booked free tours and ate out a lot. We took The Alsa bus to Granada which had aircon and good WiFi and super comfy seats. We also took the train in Malaga to the airport which was super easy. Enjoy

Use Google translate or DeepL to get by. It is appreciated if you try, so get Ola, Que Tal, Por Favor, Gracias, Cafe con leche/solo (white or black coffee) off by heart. You will not be isolated by not speaking Spanish, but it's good to have a few words here and there.

Public transport is easy. You can get a train from the airport to the city, and from the city to the furthest point down the coast Fuengirola. Buses and trains go all over the place from Maria Zambrano station up near El Corte Ingles (map). There is a ticket office, or you can download the Avanza bus app and Renfe train app to get timings and book online. The Trainline app is good as it searches all the train operators for the best price on the day. Local buses take coins and notes up to €10. You can get a multi card, but they are not sold everywhere, maybe at the bus station.

Oh great advice, thank you

All advice really appreciated

Forgot to ask, what is the temperature like mid September?

Very warm and pleasant, and it can be very hot at times, but lovely. Probably not the searing temps as it is now though. Great time to go.

It's annoying that everything is in Spanish though.

That's because it's in Spain!!!

I love the parts of Spain where nothing is in English because those are the unspoilt parts.

Malaga in very interesting but Nerja is overrated.

I am thinking of Malaga for a winter holiday, with train trips to Seville, Gibraltar etc.

We went at the end of Oct and it’s was mid 20s every day. I expect September to be very warm and sunny.

Malaga is more accessible.

train goes Stephen from the station to Malaga.

it goes right along the coast so you could do a day in Torreblanca or fuengirola which are more touristy - if it’s takes your fancy.

We usually stay in Torreblanca and do a day or 2 in Malaga. Go up by train. Sometimes go around on the open bus tour. Beach is good and plenty of swimming.

Nerja is lovely but not particularly easy to get to or get to the beach from without a car.

The trains are fab. You can also get to Cordoba within a reasonable time